A THEATRE company which has had to postpone its nationwide tour is getting ready to broadcast into people’s homes.

Battery Theatre was due to visit various theatres throughout the summer but has had to put its tour on hold due to coronavirus.

Instead, the Dunbar-based theatre company will broadcast a performance this evening (Friday) of ‘Mary, it Began With a Lass’ on Facebook.

Philip Kingscott, co-founder of Battery Theatre Company, was disappointed to have to postpone the tour.

He said: “We were keeping an eye on how it was developing each day.

“Having spoken to the venues we were booked to visit, we decided that our tour in June was just not an option.”

The theatre group was planning to retrace the steps of Dunbar’s famous son John Muir.

Kirsten Maguire, fellow producer and co-founder, said: “Our plan was to walk the 134 miles of the John Muir Way, performing a play about his life along the route.

“We were booked for performances in theatres, parks and gardens, finishing our tour in our home venue, the Battery Theatre in Dunbar Harbour.

“We decided to postpone the tour until 2021 instead, but still wanted to do something for our loyal audiences.

“We’ve produced two plays for the Battery, celebrating Dunbar’s rich heritage, and it seemed a great shame to not do that again this summer.”

Philip told the Courier that the postponement had led to the idea of a livestream performance on social media.

He said: “I’ve been enjoying the broadcasts the Met Opera in New York and, more recently, the National Theatre have been doing online.

“Even though I’m stuck inside, I’m still getting the opportunity to see some fantastic theatre.

“More recently I’ve been getting together with friends to all watch the broadcast at the same time and then meet up via live video chat afterwards to have a drink and chat about the show.”

‘Mary, It Began With a Lass’ by Suzanne Lofthus was toured by Battery Theatre last summer to historic venues associated with the life of Mary Queen of Scots, also revealing the pivotal part Dunbar played in her life.

It is a fast-paced journey through the life and loves of Mary. It looks at the lives of Mary and Elizabeth I, two powerful women struggling to retain control of their nations. To see the performance, go to facebook.com/batterytheatrecompany at 7pm.